Example: We all ignored the elephant in the room during the meeting.
Definition
"The elephant in the room" is an idiomatic expression referring to an obvious problem or controversial issue that everyone is aware of but deliberately avoids discussing. It highlights the discomfort or awkwardness in acknowledging something significant yet unaddressed in a situation.
Translations
el elefante en la habitación
de olifant in de kamer
l'elefant a l'habitació
l'éléphant dans la pièce
der Elefant im Raum
Etymology
The phrase "the elephant in the room" originated in the mid-20th century as a metaphor to describe a large, obvious presence that is being ignored. It plays on the absurdity of an elephant being unnoticed in a room, symbolizing an issue too big to overlook but still avoided. The precise origin is uncertain, but it gained popularity through literature and speeches emphasizing unspoken truths.
Learn to use this expression actively
"The elephant in the room" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
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